Love and Traditions

I started Christmas decorating. That was the hardest part. Just getting started. Before my errands, I dragged the tree from the closet. After the errands, I set it up. Before PT for my frozen shoulder, I dragged out the box of decorations. After PT, I started to decorate the tree. Then I had massage therapy. After massage therapy, I was too relaxed and pooped to do anything more than take a picture of the tree. Tomorrow, I will finish decorating.

In years past, I had two trees. One was the colorful tree for the kids, the other was the elegant white and crystal ornament tree. This week, I gave the colorful tree to one of the moms I work with who chose life over abortion. She had no tree. I had no kids at home. Win/win.

One tree is all I can bear to decorate any more. I love the beauty of Christmas, but not the fuss. Still, I will continue to put up the elegant tree if only for the joyful annual tradition with my daughter. She is coming over Friday and we will go shopping for one perfect crystal ornament to add to the tree. I love that tradition and am glad she is still happy to do that with me. Usually we have to scour several stores before we find the perfect ornament. She thinks I am picky about ornaments. Really, I am just relishing the time spent with her in a mutual endeavor.

One day, she (or one of my boys) will inherit the crystal white tree ornaments if she wants them, just as I inherited them from my mom. She is a bit of a heretic though. She told me I needed a single splash of color dotting my crystal tree or "it is boring." To please her, I bought two blue flowers last year.

I will add some more blue flowers this year too when we go shopping together. I must admit, the splash of blue, while daring, is kind of nice amidst all that white and crystal. Also, it makes my daughter happy, and that makes me happy.

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1 Corinthians 13:4-7 

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 Timothy 5:8

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

1 John 4:19 

We love because he first loved us.